Note: This original witness statement in PDF format is also available in text format for in-page searching and inclusion in the website's search engine. Please treat the PDF version as the authoritative text.

Comments below.

Comments

According to his  witness testimony to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (above), “James (CDR)”  was born in 1940 and attended Merchiston as a pupil from 1954-1959 before returning as a member of staff from 1966-1979.

From the published book, the  Merchiston Castle School Register – 1974-1993, it is clear that only one person born in 1940 appears both listed as pupil, attending from 1954-1959...

"1954
MARTIN, GEORGE MACGREGOR, (B.3, S), [28th November 1940], left 1959; Junior Prefect; VI; Hope Prize; Mair and Waddell Swords; Sgt.; Abercromby Schol.; Asst. Master, St Mary's, Melrose, 1960; Oriel Coll., Oxford, 1960-63; MA (Mod. Langs.); Trinity Coll., Glasgow, 1963-66; BD; Chaplain at Merchiston, 1966-79; Scripture Union, India, Staff Worker, 1980-81; RE Teacher, Coatbridge HS, 1982-84; Chaplain, Abbotsholme School, 1985-87; Chaplain, Kamuzu Academy, Malawi, 1987-1992; Ordained, C of S, 1987. 8 Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh. (Also see Staff Entry)."

...and in the staff listings in the same edition of the Register, Martin is also listed—returning to serve as chaplain and teach modern languages at the school from 1966-1979, the same years "James (CDR)" mentioned in the witness statement:

"MARTIN, Rev. GM  (Chaplain and Mod. Langs.) Oriel Coll., Oxford, MA; Trinity Coll., Glasgow, BD; Rugby coaching; i/c Golf 1969-79; i/c Band 1970-74; i/c Highland Dancing 1967-74; Resident House Tutor; Left in 1979 to work with the Social Services in India."

According to the Register, Rev. Martin was the sole assistant master hired in 1966.

His year of birth given in the SCAI witness statement matches the year in his pupil entry in the Register.

Education qualifications mentioned in the witness statement ("When I left Merchiston as a pupil in 1959 I completed a degree at Oxford in [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]. I went on to Glasgow University where I obtained a degree in [REDACTED: approx 16 characters]") also match the staff entry in the Register, further confirming "James (CDR)" to be the Rev. George Macgregor Martin.

The witness' own testimony—poorly-redacted by the the SCAI—held next to the Merchiston Castle School Registry, 1974-1993 obviously jigsaw into the same person: Rev. George Macgregor Martin—Merchiston pupil (1954-1959), Merchiston Chaplain and Merchiston assistant master (1966-1979), and "James (CDR)" (in SCAI documents).

You will notice references to "James (CDR)" in other files, the letters "CDR" appearing on top of the black redaction strips in SCAI's documents, typically over a redacted name in statements made by others.

The Hub is still working through and tagging documents on this site, key to piecing this narrative together. Part of that process will include tagging these codes visible on redactions on the official documents. From tags leading to BY TOPIC pages, we will be able to trace multiple narratives about the same person across different witness accounts and pull together a clearer picture.

Nigel Parry, Research Hub Editor